The Surrogate (Gestational Carriers)

Who are the Surrogates and how are they screened?

NEFI does not recruit Gestational Carriers. We rely on several agencies that specialize in finding women who are willing to serve as surrogates. In general the agency finds the surrogate and performs the initial background check. Our Gestational Carrier team at NEFI then completes the medical and psychological evaluation and prepares the Gestational Carrier for her cycle.

Gestational Carrier Profile

• Age – The carriers are generally in their 20’s or 30’s.
• Pregnancy History – We only recruit Gestational Carriers who have at least one successful pregnancy.
• Medical History – We screen for medical conditions that may affect the pregnancy.

Screening of Gestational Carriers

1. Criminal background check, driving record and home visit is done by the agency.
2. Psychological Evaluation – Done at NEFI by our experienced counseling team. The carrier is required to have an interview as well as a written personality test (PAI). If married, her partner is required to be evaluated as well.
3. Medical Evaluation – Dr Lavy reviews the Gestational Carrier’s medical records. If approved the carrier will be seen at NEFI for a through evaluation. A physical exam, extensive blood work and a saline ultrasound are done. The medical evaluation follows the FDA guidelines for Gestational Carriers.
4. Meeting the Intended Parents – The Gestational Carrier and her partner are scheduled to come in and meet the intended parents. The interview is conducted by our counselor and her recommendation is given after the meeting. We try to ensure that the intended parents and the carrier are compatible and are in agreement on some of the important issues surrounding the process (i.e. how many embryos to transfer, should amniocentesis be done, what to do if an abnormally is detected etc.)